Darling Range College: major parties commit to upgrade funding

A LABOR promise to upgrade the Darling Range College in Forrestfield was matched by the State Government this week.

Most high schools built before 1985 need work now and the Darling Range Sports College desperately needs an injection of funds to modernise it.

Forrestfield MLA Nathan Morton said it would receive a major multi-million dollar upgrade if the Government was re-elected.

He said it would be funded through the partial sale of Western Power.

“Without the partial sale of Western Power, it will be many more years before these works can go ahead,” he said.

The high school building program will see $560 million invested in 69 high schools across the state.

That will leave more than $400 million left from the $1 billion fund to do further re-build and upgrades at primary schools and Tafes.

The funds will be spent on a new canteen, music room, oval and tennis courts and a refurbishment of the science labs, and home economics and art rooms.

Darling Range Sports College is the main feeder school for the local area.

Last week the Opposition Leader Mark McGowan promised the school a $10 million upgrade if Labor wins power.

Forrestfield candidate for the ALP Stephen Price said the school was more than 40 years old and needed money spent on it to bring it into the modern age.

“Darling Range Sports College needs equipment which caters to the current and future needs of the school,” he said.

“In 2017, the projected enrolment at Darling Range Sports College is expected to reach 1050, so investment in the school will be welcomed by the local community.”

Mr Price said the school’s students were 70 per cent non-ATAR students in Year 12.

Mr McGowan said the funding would be part of Labor’s commitment to ensure schools were equipped to give children a 21st century education.

“We want to ensure all students receive a quality education, no matter where they live,” he said.

The school population sits at 1040 students from Year 7 to Year 12.

Students travel across school districts and from rural regions to participate in the specialist sports program.